Slack-adjuster for railway-brakes.



W. H. SAUVAGE.

SLACK ADJUSTER FOR RAILWAY BRAKES.

APPLICATION FILED DB9. 27-, 1910'.

1,02G,5g1 9, Patented Mar. 19, 1912 it: an

Tig 2 INVENTUR 6143M, bum,

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SLACK-ADJUSTER FOR RAILWAY-BRAKES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

- Application filed December 27. 1910. Serial No. 599,512.

f To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLL\.\1-H. SAY- \AGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York 5 and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in black- Adjusters for Railway-Brakes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip-.

tion', such as will enable others skilled in the W art to which it appertains to make and use the'same.

This invention relates to slack adjusters for the brake rigging of railway cars, and more particularly to a self-contained apparatus which will be automatic in its operation.

One of the objects of the present inven-' tion is to provide a simple and practical slack ad uster ot the above character.

Another object. is to provide an apparatus of the above style which will be cheap to 'iminufacture.

A further object to provide an automatic slack adjuster that will be positive in its action, reliable in operation and equal in every way to the demands placed thereupon by varying conditions of use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction he-reinafter set forth, and the scope of the applicat-ion of which will be indicated in the following claims;

In the accompanying drawing. wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention, Figure l is a side elevation 40 showing the device,'partly in section, ap-

plied to an ordinary two-wheeled truck, certain parts of the truck being omitted for the sake of clearness; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail views of various parts, as will be more fully hereinafter explalned.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing. 1

\Vhile' the present invention is shown and described as applied to the central part of the truck between the wheels at opposite sides thereof out of the path of water and snow thrown bythe revolving wheels inw et weather, it is, of course, to be understood that it may be applied to beamless trucks 'at each side if so desired, or to outside hung brake shoes, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the (lrawing,.in detail, 1 represents the transom of a twowheeled truck of any well-known make, suspended from which are hangers 2 and 33, supporting the brake beams} and respectively, having heads thereon carrying brake-shoes (i and 7 adapted to coact with the tread of wheels 8 and 9. The break beams 4 and 5 are adapted to be actuated by the relative movement of therliv v and dead levers 1t) and 11, respectively. The live lever 10 is pi votally connected at the upper part thereof with a rod 12 which in turn is connected to the brake rigging mechanism, not herein shown, in such a manner as to be drawn to the left, when air is admitted to the air brake cylinder. Hand brake mechanism may also be connected to the rod 12 when the device is applied .to freight cars, for example, to actuate the brake mechanism ina similar manner. The lower ends o f the live and dead levers are connected by means of an automatically extensible or two-part telescopic push bar. the effective length of which is changed as the slack is taken up. This bar comprises a rod 13 extending into a hollow casting or lmrrel-shaped member 14. provided intermediate its ends with an enlarged chamber 15 into which the end of the rod 13 extends. This chamber is rectaligular in shape, and is adapted to contain a plurality of relatively small solid objects or shims 16, as shown in detail in Fig. 2. These shims which loosely fitbetween and interfit with the side walls of the chamber 15 may be'considercd as being of U-shaped formation, having squared corners to prevent rotation thereof about the rod 13 upon which the shims rest in inverted position. It will thus be seen that as the parts of the push bar are separated and the rod 13 moves out of the chamber 15, the shims 16 will drop down, as shown in the drawings, thereby makilig a solid continuation of the push bar between the effective ends of the telescoping parts and positively hold the slack taken up. ,By providing -a positive take-up of this characteras distinguished from the pawl and ratchet mechanism or a threaded turnbuckle, itwill be seen that the danger of stripping the teethor threads of suchmechamsms avoided, for .it frequently happens,

that the brakes are suddenly applied in emergency by the operator which temporarily places the maximum strain upon mechanisms of this kind at times, producing disastrous results.

The barrel member 14 which is cored out to a slightly larger diameter than the bar 13, as shown, to prevent friction, is of watertight construction and is provided with a packing ring or gasket 17 at the end thereof surrounding the bar 13 .to prevent water from see in into the chamber and freezin thereby restricting the free operation of the 3s Shims interfittin'g with the bar 13; I 5'-:

A removablecover 18 having a watertight packing ring 19 is provided for the chamber permitting access thereto for replacing or removing shims, for example.

I At this point it may be noted that the end of the rod 13 isslightly beveled, as at20 whereby the shims extending partially. about the bar 13 will more readily drop into place.

Parallel to the push bar, and slightly above the same, is an adjusting rod 21 having one end clamped-in a bracket 22 pivotally connected at- 23 with the live lever 10. The 0p- ,posi'te end of the rod 2lpasses through a friction clamp mounted on the dead lever 11. This friction clamp comprises a bracket 2 provided with an enlarged and elongated opening 25 at the upper part thereof through which passes a pivot pin 26 for securing the same to the dead lever 11. The slight dif- -lost motion of about one-eighth of an inch between each brake shoeand its adjacent wheel. By providing for a predetermined amount of slack between the brake shoe and the wheel of substantially the amount above set forth, as permitted by the lost motion connection just referred to, the brake shoes, are kept out of contact with the tread of the wheels, thereby avoiding any unnecessary .wear and friction between the surfaces.

. There is, however, sufficient friction due to the air passing between the brake shoe and the tread of the wheel as the wheel rotates to preventmoisture from collecting and freezing'on the surface of the shoe, as might occur in cold wet weather. This bracket 24 is provided with a longitudinal recess 27 (see Fig. 4;) which is curved at" the rear as shown, to fit rod 21 lying therein. Projecting ears 29 are providednear each end of this recess through which pass pins 30 to hold a flat-resilient. spring member 31 and wear plate 28 in'contact with the rod 21. The ends-of the plate 28 are adapted to remove dirt or ice from the rod 21 that would otherwise form between the spring and rod. This form-of friction contact or friction clamppermits the red-21 to move relatively to the bracket 24 in either direction, as may be required under different conditions;

Mounted upon the rod 21 at the left of the friction clamp is an adjustable collar 32 fiirming an abutment for one end of a coiled spring 33 about the rod 21. 'Rigidly secured upon the bar 13 is a yoke 34 (see Fig. 3) having an elongated slot'35 in the upper part thereofthrough which passes the rod 21, and forming an abutment for the opposite end of the coiled spring 33. This spring, which forms an integral part of the ad'- juster, not only acts as a means for extending or spacing the parts of the push bar, but

also returns the brake shoes and otherparts to normal position. The normal tension of this spring holds the mechanism in posit on vto become immediately operative when the when one or both wheels are replaced byor turned down to wheels of a smaller diameter. The first adjustment comprises a member 36 secured to a relatively fixed part of the truck and having. a plurality of holes 37 adapted to be engaged by a pin 38 pivotally connecting the dead lever 11 thereto. Likewise the stirruped end of the. casting or barrel-shaped member 14: is provided with holes 39 to either one of which the lower end of the dead lever maybe connected by a pivot pin flO, depending upon the size of'the wheel. 9 to which the brake is to be applied.

It'is thought that the operation or method of using this apparatus should be clear from the description hereinabove set forth, but

a brief statement thereof is as follows: When the brakes are applied, the live lever 10 moves toward the left under the action i of the air or hand brake levers and connection 12. This lever will first use the epd of the bar 13 or pivotal connection 41 as a fulcrum and move the adjusting rod 21 to the left therewith, thereby to take up the pre determined slack or lost motion allowed between the hole 25 and pin 26 supporting the rod 21 from the dead lever 11. As above explained, the taking up of this predetermined lost motion is suflicient to carry the brake shoes into contact with the tread of the wheels and apply the brakes. However, as the brake shoes wear down in the course of time it will be necessary for them to travel beyond th'edistance allowed by the lost motion connection. It 'is quite clear that any further movement of the lever will cause a relative slipping movement between the rod 21 and the friction clamp 24, thereby to compress the coiled s ring 33 more than an amount normally su cient to return the parts to their original position. This relative movement istaken up and temporarilyheld by the friction clamp as [long as the brakes are in applied position,

and when they are released and the live lever 10-starts to return to normal position the frictionbetween the clampand rod 21 will besutficient to hold the adjusting rod in its temporarily adjusted position after the predetermined lost motion at the conneetionEZG has been taken up. The pivotal connection 23.now acts as a fulcrum and the expansion of the spring 33 acting against the yoke 3-1 forces the end of the bar 13 toward the left, thereby returning the upper end of the live lever 10 to its full normal or release position. This out-ward movement of the bar 13, or relatively to the barrel member, permits one or more of the shims 16 to drop down in the position shown, thereby making a solid connection between the adjacent effective ends of the telescop-.

ing parts and permanently taking up the slack. It is quite clear that such a rigid con struction as this will permit the brakes to be applied or released instantaneously. which would not be feasible in a pawl and ratchet construction or turnbuckle take-up, due to the danger of stripping the teeth or threads of the mechanisui. It. is to he noted that a slack adjuster of this style always.

maintains the live and dead levers inthe same relative position. thereby affording a uniform piston travel in the air brake cylindei'.

'hen the shoes have become so worn as the member His again turned over, the

- application of the brakes will automatically shims all rest on the bar 13 and the parts are in position to be again connected. The first.

adjust the apparatus to its new conditions in substantially the manner above described.

It will thus be seen that this invention provides for a simple and practical slack adjuster, accomplishing, among others, all of the objects and a vantages above set forth. 4

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention, could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrating and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween;

Having described-my invention, what -I .claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patient is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination a live lever, a dead lever, a two part push bar connecting said levers, a plurality of shims associated with said bar adapted to drop down between-the effective ends thereof as the length of said bar is altered, one of the parts of said push bar. being so constructed as to permit its rotation to return the shims to their original relative position from between the effective ends of the parts of said push bar.

:2. In an apparatus. of the character described, in combination, a live lover, a dead lever. a two-part extensible coupling member therebetween, and shims adapted to be interposed between the effective ends of said parts as thelength thereof is changed to take up the slack due to wear of the brake shoes. one of said parts being rotat relativelyto the other whereby the bar may be returned to its original length, and the shim. returned to normal position.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, an adjusting bar adapted temporarily to take up the slack due to the wear of the brake shoes. and a two-part push bar connecting, said levers adapted permanently tc take up said slack, one of the parts of said push bar b'eing rotatable relatively to the other whereby said push bar is restored t its original effective length.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination. a live lever, a dead lever, a two-part push bar connected therewith, a second bonnectionbetween said levers for temporarilyjt'aking up the slack, means connecting saidsecond connection with one of the parts of said push bar whereby the same is actuated permanently to take up the slack, a plurality of shims adapted tobt carried on one of the parts of said push bai and adapted to be interposedbetween the 'adjacent effective ends permanently to hold scribed, in combination,'.a live lever, a deaf one of said partshaving an enlarged chamlever, a connection therebetween comprising a-telescopic push bar, means "for changing the position of the; parts of said push bar for the purpose of permanently taking up the slack, a plurality of shims adapted-to be interposed between the adjacent e'fl'ective ends ofe-said push bar, and a. water-tight "shim box inclosing said shims.

6. In an apparatus of the character described,in combinatioma live lever,5a dead lever, and I an automatically extensible connection therebetween comprisingaj-tivo-part telescopic push bar, one of said parts being enlarged andadapted to form a chamber inclo'sing a plurality of shims resting upon the other, whereby the shims drop down d between the adjacent effective ends as said push bar is'extended said chamber having a removable cover whereby the shims may be easily removed therefrom;

7. In an apparatus of he character d'escribed, in combination, a live leverf a dead lever, and a telescopic push bar connection therebetween, rigid means'adapte'd-to be-interposed between the adjacent ends of said push bar as the same is extended, and spring means adapted to-act upon one of said parts to extend the .pushba-ras the brakesfare released.

8. In an apparatus of the charactendescribed, in combination, a live lever, a-dead lever, and a telescopic push bar connectiontherebetween, rigid means adapted to be 'in-- terposed between the adjacent effective ends of said push bar as the same is extended, and spring means adapted to return the parts to normal position and act uponone of said parts to extend the push bar'as the parts are'returned to normal position.

9. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, in combination, a telescopic push as thcy'assume adjusted position.

bar comprising two relatively movable parts, one of said parts having anenlarged chamber containing a plurality of. U-shapedshims adapted to be interposed betweenythe efl'ective ends of the parts of said push bar 10. In an apparatus of-the character de scribed, in combination, a telescopic push bar comprising two-relatively movable parts,

z-ber containing aplurality of U-shaped tion thereof within said chamber.

shims adapted to be interposed. between the effective ends of theparts of said push bar .55

as they assume'adjusted position, said U.- shaped shims having m'eans-to prevent rota- -11. In an apparatus of. the character deprising two relatively movable parts, and

" non-rotatable shims adapted to be interposed between the separated ends of-saidvparts.

12; In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a two-part telescopic push bar, the outer of said parts having an enlarged chamber, a water-tight cover permitting access-thereto, and a plurality of .shiins res'tin'gupon one of said parts adapted to be interposed between the efi'estive ends of said push bar as its lengthis changed ermanently to hold the slack taken up there y.

13. In an apparatus 'of the character described, in combination, a telescopic push bar comprising-a cylindrical rod. and a barrel shaped castin within which said rod' is movable, a pac ring ringon said casting near one end thereof surrounding said rod adapted to make a water-tight connection, said casting having an enlarged chamber near the central part thereof containing a plurality of relatively small objects adapted to be interposed between the effective ends of said push bar as its length is altered permanentlyto hold the slack taken up thereby.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a telescopic push bar comprising a cylindrical rod and a. barrelshaped casting'within which said -rod is movable, and a packing ringon said castin near one end' thereof surroumling said 10%] adapted to'iuake a water-tight connection, said casting having an enlarged cham-' bcr containing a plurality of U-shaped shims resting upon said rod and adapted to drop no down' between the end thereof and the end ofthe chamber to make a solid conncction betweensaid parts permanently to hold. the slack taken up thereby.

15,'In an apparatus ofthe character dcscribed', in combination, a telescopic push bar comprising a cylindrical rod and a 'member within which 'saidrod is movable, and apacking ring on said member near one end thereof surrounding said rod adapted to make a water-tight connection, said member. having. an enlarged chamber containin g a plurality of U-shaped shims resting upon v said rod and adapted to drop down between the end thereof and the ,end of the chamber to make a solid connection between said parts permanently to hold the slack taken up thereby, .sa'id shims' having squared corners adaptcd to prevent a rotationthereof withi,n,saidizhamber. v

* 16,;In \an; apparatus of the characterdescribed, in :combinzition, a telescopic push bar comprising a' cylindricalfrod and a,

V member within which saidrod i's-movable,

and a packing ring .on said member near one endthereof'surrounding said rod adapted to make a vwater-tight connection,. said member having an enlarged chamber containing aplurality of U-shapcdshiins resting u on said rod and adapted to drop down etween the end thereof vandjthe endof the chamber to make a solid connection 'make a water-light connection, said casting having an.. enlarged chamber containing a plurality of U-shaped shims resting upon said rod and adapted to drop down between the endthereof and the end of the chamber to make a solid connection between the effective ends of said parts permanently to hold the slack taken up thereby, said chamber having a water-tight cover permitting access to the interior thereof.

18. In. an apparatus of the character described, in combination,- a telescopic push bar comprising two relatively 1 movable parts, one of said parts having an inclosed rectangular chamber containing a plurality of. shims resting upon the other of said parts and loosely' fitting between the side walls of said chamber whereby. the rotation of said shims about the part upon which they rest is positively prevented.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a telescopic push bar, an enlarged chamber associated with one of the parts of said push bar, and shims in said chamber interfitting with the other part of said bar and the wall of said chamber whereby a rotation thereof within said chamber is at all times prevented.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a telescopic push bar, an enlarged chamber associated with one of the parts 'of said push bar, and U-shaped shims within said chamber resting upon and extending partially about the other art of said push bar.

21. n an apparatus of the character, described, in combination, a telescopic push bar, an enlarged chamberassociated with one of the parts of said push bar, and shims within said chamber extending partiallv about the other part of said push barand adapted to interfit with the sides of said chamber whereby rotation thereof within said chamber is positively prevented.

22. In anapparatus 'of the character described, in combination, a two-part telescopic push bar, one of said parts having an enlarged portion forming a shim chamber into which the other part projects, and a plurality .of shims within said chamber adapted to intcrfit between the parts of said push bar as thesamc assumes extended posi tion the part of said bar having an enlarged portion being so formed as to-permit a rotation thereof whereby the shims may be returned to their original relative position,

thereby permitting a compression of said push bar.

23. In an apparatus of the character described,.in combination, a two-part telescopic push bar, one of said parts having an enlarged portion forming a shim chamber into which the other )artprojects, and a plurality of shims within said chamber interfitting with the side walls thereof to prevent rotation and extending partially around the other part of said push bar.

- 24. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, an extensible push bar, and shims adapted to interfit with the partsof said push bar to prevent a rotation thereof and drop between the effective ends thereof when extended.

25. In an apparatus oflthe character described, in combination, an extensible push bar, and shims adapted to interfit between the effective ends thereof, said shims being out to permit their removal upward from the part of the ush bar upon which they rest and provide with means whereby relative rotation thereof is positively prevented.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, an extensible two part push bar, and shims adapted to interfit between the effective ends thereof, said shimsbeing cut to fit the part of the push bar upon which they rest and provided with means adapted to coact with the other part,

of said push bar whereby a rotation thereof is positively prevented.

27. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a two-part tele- .Scopic push bar, and spring means directly coacting with one of said parts positively to separate the effective ends of said push bar. 28. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a two-part telescopic push bar connecting the live and dead levers of brake rigging, a connection parallel with said push bar, and spring means on said connection directly coacting on one of the parts of said push bar'positively to separate the effective ends of said push bar as the brakes are released.

29. In an apparatus of the character des ribed, in combination, two-part telescopic push bar interposed between the live and 'dead. levels of brake rigging, a rod parallel thereto, a spring upon said rod and reacting on one of the parts of said push bar positively to space the same as the brakes are released, and means adapted to be interposed between the effective ends of said push bar permanently to hold the parts in adjusted position, said means including a plurality of non-rotatable shims and a water-tight chamber inclosing said shims.

30. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a two-part telescopic push bar interposed between said levers, one part rotatable relatively to the other to permit'a change in the efiective length of said bar, and an adjusting bar connecting "said levers, said adjusting bar comprising two relatively movable members having a frictional en-- gagement with each other, and one ofsaid relatively movable members being connected with the adjacent lever whereby a predetermined amount of lost motion is provided said connection. W

'31. In an apparatus of the character be-. scribed, incombination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push bar 'connecting said levers, an adjustingbar connecting said levers, a release spring, and an abutment on one of said parts and a yoke on the other whereby said spring is compressed between said abutment and yoke as the brakes are applied and reacts to return the parts to normal position and separate said telescoping connection as the brakes are released one of the parts of said push bar being roztably mounted upon the other whereby the arts may be restored to a position to permlt 3 the replacing of the worn brake shoes.

32. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a bracket having a lost motion con-' nection with one of said levers, a friction clamp carried on said bracket, a rodconnected with the other of said levers passing through said friction clamp and movablein both directions therein, means associated with said clamp adaptedto remove foreign matter from the rod as it passes therethrough, a telescopic push bar connecting said levers, a spring on said rod, means on said rod and push bar engaging the opposite ends of said spring whereby/the same is compressed as the brakes are actuated, said spring. adapted to react to return the parts to normal position and separate the parts of said telescopic push bar when the brakes are released, and solid means adapted to be interposed between said parts when separated.

' 33. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a friction clamp ,pivotally connected with one of said levers and afiording a predetermined amount of lost motion at the point of connection, a rod pivotally connected with the other lever and operable in both directions through said friction clamp, a wear plate carried by said clamp engaging said rod, a two-part telescopic push bar connecting the lower ends or said live lever and dead lever, an abutment carried on said rod, a yoke carriedby one of the parts of said push bar, and a spiral spring on one of said parts and interposed betweensaid yoke and abutment and adapted to be compressed when the brakes are applied to measure the I slack exceeding the lost motion and expand as the brakes are released to separate the adjacent parts of said telescopic'push bar when said slack exceeds the predetermined lost motion. I p

34. In an apparatus of the character-described, in pombination, a live lever, a dead lever, a friction clamp pivotally connected with one of said levers and affording a predetermined amount of lost motion at the point -ofconnection, a rod pivotally connected with the other lever and operable in I both directions through said friction clamp, a two-part telescopic'push bar connecting the lower ends of said live lever and dead lever, an abutment carried by said rod, a

yoke carried by one of the parts of said 1 other part of said push bar, said shims adapted to be interposed between adjacent efiective ends of said push bar permanently to hold the parts in adjusted position.

35. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a friction clamp pivotally connected with one of said levers comprising a rela tively fiat spring held plate covering a curved recess, a rod pivotally connected with the other of said levers and adapted topass through said recess and be gripped by'the said plate whereby'it is operable in both directions, a telescopic relatively adjustable push bar connecting the lower ends of said live lever and dead lever, an abutment carried on said rod, a yoke carried by one of the parts of said push bar, and a spiral spring interposed between said yoke and abutment. 11o

adapted to be compressed when the brakes areapplied to measure the slack exceeding the lost motion and expand toseparate the adjacent parts of said telescopic push bar to accommodate the excess slack.

36. In an apparatus of the character described, injcombination, a live lever, dead "lever, a two part telescopic push bar connecting saidlevers, one of ,said parts being enlarged to 'form a water-tight chamber, and a pluralityjof U-shaped shims inclosed within said chamber and resting upon the end of the push bar extending into said chamber whereby the same will drop down the rod is extended to make a solid continuation of the bar and positively holdthe slack thus taken up. i

37. In an apparatus of the character .de-

scribed, in combination, a livelever, a dead lever, a two-part telescopic push bar 0011- necting said levers, one of said parts being a plurality of U-sl1aped shims inclosed withinsaid chamber and resting upon the end of the push bar extending into said chamber whereby the same will drop down as the rod is extended to make a solid continuation of the bar and positively hold the slack thus taken up, said chamber being slightly beveled or rounded to permit the shims easily to drop intc place.

38. In an apparatus of the character dethe end of said bar extending into i scribed, in combination, a clamping device 1 having a recess therein, a rod adapted to pass through said recess, a wear plate engaging & said rod, and resilient means for holding i said wear plate in Contact with said rod.

i In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, 1 in the presence of two Witnesses. i

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE.

\Vitnesses:

L. A. \VATsoN, C. J. AUBERG. 

